The event that’s in its 3rd year will have tickets for sale beginning March 11th at bellevuejazz.com.

The 2010 Featured Artists include:

• Terence Blanchard Quintet
• The Bad Plus
• Pat Martino
• Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes + Sachal Vasandani Quartet
• Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra also featuring the Bellevue Jazz Festival Rising Stars

The Bellevue Jazz Festival will feature more than 30 free performances and jam sessions led by local artists throughout Downtown Bellevue. These locations and artists will be announced in April.

Featured Artist Schedule:

• Thursday, June 3: 7:00 pm Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, also featuring Bellevue Jazz Festival Rising Stars (tickets: $10 – $20)
• Friday, June 4: 7:00 pm The Bad Plus (tickets: $20 – $30)
• Saturday, June 5: 2:00 pm Pat Martino (tickets: $20 – $30); 8:00 pm Terence Blanchard Quintet (tickets: $40 – $50)
• Sunday, June 6: 2:00 pm Bill Charlap and Renee Rosnes + Sachal Vasandani Quartet (tickets: $30 – $40)

On March 19th and 20th The Shops at The Bravern will host “Spring Forward with Style,” an event to celebrate the changing season. Enjoy champagne and handcrafted cheeses at Neiman Marcus, David Lawrence, Jimmy Choo, Piazza Sempione, Salvatore Ferragamo, and Tory Burch.

Neiman Marcus will have in-store event specials to earn gifts on specific purchases.

The Bravern’s outdoor shopping center will hugely benefit from the weather starting to change from rain to shine. We look forward to enjoying a warm spring and summer at The Bravern.

As the 10-story project inches toward completion, this event represents one of the 1st opportunities to tour the 3 model homes and other finished units. One Main Street will make home to 57 residences once complete. Homes start in the mid $300,000’s, making it the most affordable entry point for new construction in Downtown Bellevue. One Main Street is also one of the few FHA-approved condo projects in Downtown Bellevue, which means it may be much easier to get financing for and less will be needed for a down payment.

One Main Street is tucked in the heart of Main St. in Old Bellevue and is next door to Gilbert’s Main Street Deli; it’s close to several parks, restaurants, and shops. Complimentary parking for the event is available in the garage (just follow the signs).

One Main Street
10000 Main Street
Bellevue, WA 98004

From Monday, March 1 through Wednesday, March 31 (excluding Fridays and Saturdays), participating Bellevue restaurants are offering $30, 3-course dinners and $15, 3-course lunches (excluding tax, tip, and drinks).

This year’s Downtown Bellevue restaurants are Twisted Cork, Artisanal Brasserie, and Monsoon East (offering dinner only). If you’ve always wanted to try Artisanal’s Chocolate Mousse (divine) or Monsoon East’s rice bowls (one of my dietary staples), this is the month to do it. Go forth and dine

On Friday, April 16th the Westin Bellevue is set to host Silhouettes of Style 2010 – Talk of the Town. The event will be put on by Act Two Guild to raise money for PACE (Performing Arts Center Eastside.)

This is the 2nd annual Silhouettes of Style. (See last year’s event)

The event will take place from 11:00am – 1:30pm and feature a luncheon as well as a runway fashion show put on by the Bellevue Collection. Tickets are available for $95 per person and are also available to reserve by table.

PACE will feature a 2,000-seat concert hall and 250-seat cabaret. According to the PACE website, the anticipated opening date has crept out another year and is now scheduled to for 2013. The project has been underfunded and was originally reported to break ground in 2008 and be finished in 2010.

Make a donation or register now to Silhouettes of Style 2010 to help fund PACE and get it built!

Lucky for Downtown Bellevue, we have an Irish Pub right around the corner. Paddy Coyne’s, tucked into Lincoln Square, is the best place in town to “get your green on” in the month of March. “Green” meaning Irish fare, pints of beer, live music, and traditional hospitality (not solar energy or electric car green.)

On Monday night, you can grab a $4.99 steak at Paddy Coyne’s from 3pm – 9pm. Every Wednesday from 8pm – 1pm, they have live traditional Irish music to enjoy. Also, on Saturdays and Sundays you can treat yourself to their Irish breakfast (9am – 2pm) of Corn Beef Hash, Bangers & Eggs, Sailor Jerry Rum Mimosas, and other delicious things.

Twice daily at Paddy Coyne’s, they have happy hour featuring discounted appetizers and $3 drink specials: 3pm – 6pm and 10pm – midnight.

St. Paddy’s Day – March 17th
We can’t leave out the greenest day of all – St. Patrick’s Day! Paddy Coyne’s will be open at 9am that Wednesday, serving Irish fare all day long accompanied by live Irish music. Irish stepdancing will also be enjoyed, and festivities are sure to last into the night.

So make sure you wash that green shirt of yours in time because if you’re headed to Paddy Coyne’s on the 17th, you’re sure to get pinched without it! Forget the grey skies of March, and “get your green on.”

Monday afternoon local fashion retailer David Lawrence opened its doors at The Bravern to their new Bellevue location. David Lawrence has been located in Bellevue Square since 1994 and in September announced their choice to relocate to The Bravern, which specializes in high-end retail.

Upon The Shops at The Bravern’s opening 85% of the retail space was occupied. David Lawrence will add to the star-studded line up of luxury retailers and brands at The Bravern.

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The Bellevue Downtown Association has opened up its annual Haute Picks for 2010. From now until April 2nd, vote for your top 20 favorite retailers, restaurants, and services.

Winners will be announced at the BDA Breakfast Meeting on Tuesday, April 27th.

Vote Now!

Pure Management, the management company of Pure Nightclub in Las Vegas - arguably the most popular club in the world, has signs that one of their owners is bringing an establishment to Downtown Bellevue.

A partner of Pure Management has recently applied for both a Washington State business license and liquor license at 505 Bellevue Square, Bellevue, WA 98004, which could put the new restaurant lounge above Boom Noodle and Blue C Sushi on the 2nd floor.

The application for the restaurant/lounge is under the entity name of “Brewhaha Bellevue LLC” with the firm name of “Beereteria,” which will most likely be the name of this new lounge. Some of Pure Management’s other well-known Las Vegas establishments include Coyote Ugly, Pussycat Dolls Lounge, LAX Nightclub, Social House, and more.

Thanks to Jonathan for sending this tip in!

Beginning Saturday, March 6th Artisanal Brasserie will host weekend brunch featuring live classic jazz by local musicians on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the month of March.

Musicians plan to include Black Lab Trio, nationally-known Gail Pettis, and others local artists.

Jazz Brunch Series 12PM – 3PM

• Saturday, March 6 — Black Lab Trio (Jacqueline Tabor, Kurt Shapiro, Osama Afifi)
• Sunday, March 7 — Black Lab Players (instrumentals with Kurt Shapiro, Osama Afifi, Brad Boal)
• Saturday, March 13 — Gail Pettis and John Stowell
• Sunday, March 14 — Gail Pettis and Kurt Shapiro
• Saturday, March 20 — Kurt Shapiro, Cary Black, plus guest
• Sunday, March 21 — “Guitarpalooza” hosted by Kurt Shapiro, Paul Sawyer and Osama Afifi
• Saturday, March 27 — Bernie Jacobs, Kurt Shapiro, Osama Afifi
• Sunday, March 28 — Jacqueline Tabor and Hans Brehmer